She swung around, surprised to find him close behind her.

His eyes were dark and dull in his pale face. ‘I keep thinking you can take everything from him.’

She let her hand drop from the door. ‘Is that why you’re barely able to look at me? You’re scared I’ll finally report him?’ Slowly, because she was beginning to overheat, she pulled off her hat, scarf and gloves and opened her coat. ‘From counselling, I learned that I didn’t experience the biggest trauma ever but that nevertheless it was real. It happened. I acknowledged it in my heart and talked about it.’ She stepped closer to him, gazing into his shuttered face. ‘Maybe you need to do the same. Acknowledging something bad has happened is a big help.’

He lifted a hand as if to brush her advice away. ‘This is not about me.’

‘It’s affecting you …’ She trailed off from that thought and circled back. ‘As I said this afternoon, I know I’m entitled to report the incident and name names. I was then, and I am now. But what I also know is that I’m under no pressure to do anything at all. I’m entitled not to. Some people believe there would be fewer victims if every culprit was reported. Others think I’ll never get closure if I don’t act – and maybe they have a point because coming back here has made keeping the incident in the past well-nigh impossible. Everyone’s entitled to their views but I choose not to take responsibility for stopping the bad behaviour of others. That choice is for me, not for Mac. I don’t wish him well, at all. I don’t care if he’s panicking that I’m a skeleton ready to rattle out of his closet.’

Grady stood silent and dark in the dimness of the hall. His gaze was on the floor but she could tell he was listening.

She shucked off her coat and dumped it on the stairs. ‘You love Mac and I know you looked up to him. He’s family and his son and his wife are central to your life. I expect it’s horrible to learn he once committed a crime.’ Softly, she added, ‘That’s why I never told you. See?’

‘I feel grubby,’ he whispered. ‘Because of what he did. I’m torn in half. I’m so fucking disappointed. After we kissed I was on Cloud Nine. Now it’s spoiled.’